RE:HYB: Freezing Seeds
- Subject: RE:HYB: Freezing Seeds
- From: m*@idexx.com
- Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 12:01:24 -0000
For long term storage, I'm pretty sure that "seed" from animals are
stored at -80 Celsius. That's true also of most of the (animal)
proteins that are used in the lab I work in - things like antibodies
or serum samples. For shorter term, we use -20 Celsius freezers.
Different molecules have different stability when frozen. We have to
consider other things, too, like whether a freezer is frost-free or
back-up systems for power outages (dry ice for the -80 storage).
So, anyway, I think that iris seeds are kind of "built" for at least
some freezing, aren't they? I bet individual home freezers have
different patterns of temperature cycles (frost-free vs the old ice-
cave) and so what works for one person might not work for another.
Probably the best way for a person to know if it works with his/her
equipment is to do a "controlled" study, splitting the harvested
seeds into two groups that are as similar as possible and putting
some in the fridge and some in freezer, and keeping track of the
ultimate yield of viable seedlings. Sure, the answer will take a
while, but it sounds like you hybridizers out there are a very
patient sort. I've never tried...so perhaps my suggestion should be
taken with a grain of salt!
Melanie Tornberg
Zone 4/5 South Berwick, ME
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
FREE COLLEGE MONEY
CLICK HERE to search
600,000 scholarships!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/zoU8wD/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
